It’s no secret that society tries to dictate how we ought to live our lives – whether it’s the number of kids we should have, the kinds of people we should date, or the types of professions we should be in. What’s more, we often feel pressured by friends, coworkers, and relatives alike to follow a certain path – one that they themselves took (which may or may not have turned out favorably for them), or one that simply makes sense to them since “it’s what most people would do.”  Though they mean well, those closest to us don’t always have an answer to the grand question:  How can we be happier in our lives?  Read on to learn why heeding others’ suggestions isn’t always the surefire prescription to a happier life – and how looking deep within yourself and following your gut is a better road to take.  - Society says that, as a man, I should have an affinity for cars and tools.  In actuality, I’m into reading, writing and learning. - Society says that I shoul...

Remember the days when people could turn on the TV and find MTV playing music videos, the History Channel offering history-based programming, and the Discovery Channel airing science-oriented shows? It seems those days are long gone. Networks have greatly deviated from their original programming in favor of reality shows that pit washed-up celebrities against each other, feature strangers attempting to co-exist in an abandoned setting for an extended period of time, and -- get this -- follow people as they go on dates in the nude. If you're wondering why these shows have become the rage, there's a simple answer for that: they generate high ratings, which means that advertisers demand that their commercials be sandwiched between them. In other words, it's where the money is at, so networks refuse to cease producing them. An even bigger question, I think, is why people seem so interested in shows like "Keeping up with the Kardashians," "The Real Housewive...